NEW YORK (AP) -- The Quebec labor relations board turned down a request from the NHL Players' Association for a temporary injunction, but both sides took it as a positive.

That's because the board also ruled Friday that more hearings are needed to make a final decision on a request by 16 members of the Montreal Canadiens and the NHLPA to declare a lockout illegal in the province.

No date was set for further hearings.

With the ruling, Canadiens players will be locked out with their colleagues if a lockout goes ahead on schedule.

Said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly in a statement:

"We are pleased but not surprised with the Quebec labor board's ruling tonight that any lockout of players will be effective on a league-wide basis, including in Quebec, and we are extremely appreciative of the expeditious and decisive manner in which the matter was handled. We are hopeful that this ruling will cause the players' association to cease pursuing these needless distractions and instead focus all of its efforts and energies on making progress at the bargaining table."

Said NHLPA general manager Don Zavelo in a statement:

"We are pleased with the ruling that the commission released tonight. While the commission denied the players' request for emergency relief, it also rejected the NHL's request to dismiss the case. The ruling acknowledges that the players have raised issues about the legality of the NHL's planned lockout that require a full hearing on the merits.

"We remain confident that the lockout is prohibited by the Quebec labor code and look forward to presenting our case to the commission in the near future. Should the NHL carry out its threat to lock out the players in Quebec, it will do so at its own risk."

A similar request was filed late Thursday with the Alberta labor relations board. NHLPA director of operations Alexandra Dagg said the aim was to prevent players from the Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames from being locked out.

The NHLPA argued that because it isn't certified as a union with the province, its members can't locked out under Quebec labor law. In Alberta, the union will argue that proper procedure wasn't followed, including using a mediator. The Alberta hearing will be on Friday.